'Is intermittent supercharger performance a sign that the pump is going bad'

Once the vehicle gets hot, and the pump is not working, the supercharger will not work 'til the temps come down, thus making the supercharger intermittent


'is the air cooler circulation pump what everyone is referring to when they say intercooler pump'
Yes

The tech you talked to does not know his @rse from his elbow, as I assure you there's an intercooler hiding under the supercharger